Hmoob Thiab Ntsav Qab Zib: Dabtsi Thiaj Li Yuav Tiv Thaiv Tau Koj

Abstract

Type 2 diabetes affects many Hmong people in the United States. However, the rate of compliance with both pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic treatment is low, and many continue to suffer from complications of the disease such as diabetic retinopathy, nephropathy, and neuropathy. From personal experience in working with diabetic Hmong patients, what seems to be contributing to this is a lack of knowledge regarding prevention, risk factors, the disease process, and treatment of diabetes. An important barrier makes this knowledge gap possible--language. Not only is it difficult for non-English speaking patients to fully understand what is being said by their doctors, but it may also be difficult for less experienced providers and interpreters who speak Hmong and English to communicate as well. This is simply due to the fact that there are not enough words in Hmong for English medical terms. This pamphlet is an attempt to educate by bridging the communication gap for both Hmong speaking patients and Hmong speaking providers, and for this purpose it is written entirely in Hmong.